Allegation of sexual misconduct at Young Labour camp

Newsroom has another story about allegations of sexual misconduct, this time at a Young Labour summer camp. There are also questions over supply of alcohol to minors.

One drunk person can do a lot damage, but how it was dealt with is also important, and it seems astounding that while Labour Party general secretary Andrew Kirton was aware of it and is dealing with it, Jacinda Ardern said this afternoon that she knew nothing about it.

The Labour Party has been hit with claims that four young supporters were sexually assaulted at one of its annual ‘Summer School’ camps near Waihi last month.

The four – two males and two females – are all 16 and were allegedly assaulted or harassed by a 20-year-old man during a wild party on the second night of the camp.

Newsroom has been told the man was intoxicated and put his hand down the pants of at least three of the four young people.

Labour Summer Schools are open to supporters of all ages including those under 18 and this year’s camp in the Karangahake Gorge ran from late afternoon on Friday, February 9 to Sunday, February 11.

More than 50 people attended the camp and about a third of those were 18 or under.

The ages of those who were allegedly assaulted has not been revealed.

According to witnesses, a large variety of alcohol was available on Saturday night and many people, including a 15-year-old boy, were drinking.

The “mountain” of alcohol included rum, vodka, cider and a large array of RTDs.

If people under the legal drinking age were supplied with alcohol, that’s another serious problem for Labour.

It’s understood the camp’s supervisor, Young Labour’s Tess Macintyre, had gone to bed around 9pm and was not present at the party.

Was no one in charge or responsible after that?

The camp’s ‘Code of Conduct’ was given to everyone who registered for the event.

It states there is “zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour includes any criminal activity, as well as bullying or acting inappropriately toward other attendees”.

It sounds like a major fail on that one.

The code also refers to alcohol and sexual harassment.

“The organising committee has to pay special attention to the activities of all under 18s in the camp (especially in regards to alcohol). We do not want to prevent you having fun but must act according to the law. No Means No! Sexism and sexual harassment of any form will not be tolerated.”

And a fail on that as well.

The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, spoke at the event but was not present at the time of the incident.

Other speakers included Labour’s General Secretary, who outlined the party’s plans for 2018, MP for Waiariki Tamati Coffey on Māori development and Dr Sarb Johal on mental health.

Newsroom understands that the man involved was removed from the camp on the Sunday morning, the same day those attending heard a talk on feminism by Angie Warren-Clark – a Labour list MP and manager of the Tauranga Women’s Refuge.

She may not be very happy about the allegations.

Labour’s General Secretary, Andrew Kirton said he was aware of the incident and was currently, “working through it”.

Keeping the lid on it, until the news broke.

In a press conference this afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was the first she’d heard of the allegations.

“I went to the opening of that summer camp, I attended at the very beginning, people had just arrived so certainly none of that was apparent when I was there. This is the first I’ve heard of any such allegations but now that you’ve made them I’ll happily investigate them because that is not what I would expect of any Labour function.”

‘Happily’ is not a great word to use in these circumstances.

“Given that I’ve just heard it now, I’d just ask for the time to look into that personally.”

On whether leadership knew: “That could well be the case, I’m certainly not ruling out that our Labour Party leadership may well be aware, I’m certainly just pointing out it has not been raised with me until now.”

It seems remarkable that the Labour Party was aware of the incident and “working through it”, but that Ardern was not informed.

This is a major embarrassment, with possible illegalities have occurred in respect of alcohol and supply and the sexual misconduct.

1 News has just reported that the police were not involved in the complaints. Why not?

How Labour deals with this from now is very important. This has put the Prime Minister in a very difficult position.

UPDATE: Statement from Andrew Kirton:

This sounds like an attempt at belated damage control. I think that Kirton has a bit more explaining to do.

UPDATE 2:

So it appears this was known about publicly (on Twitter) a month ago. I have the Twitter account details but there is associated information on that tweet thread that I don’t want to repeat here).

UPDATE 3: a statement from Ardern:

That is doing little other then repeating Kirton’s ‘assurances’. Ardern needs to step up and show leadership on this – which means taking appropriate responsibility.

So Kirton decided to try and deal with it all on the quiet himself? Very risky.

Stunningly good interview as always by @JohnJCampbell – the ‘sexual abuse counselling’ service Andrew Kirton mentions for victims was made available yesterday – Sunday – before the Monday story. https://t.co/MdqlzQjG7B

100 Comments

I would be most concerned with the alcohol at a camp where underage people were. Everyone knows what happens when teenagers are away from home and they begin drinking. I am unimpressed that Labour was so careless (and that the supervisor went to bed at 9pm)

Kitty Catkin

Zedd

Missy

Is that all you care about? How the media are reporting it, or whether the media would have ‘badgered’ Key or English.

How disgusting, three 16 year old kids were sexually assaulted at a Labour Party sponsored event that had alcohol present, and they appear to be covering it up. I think there is more to be concerned about than how the media are reporting it, and anyone with an ounce of decency would be focussing on that rather than some petty and childish whine about the media being oh so unfair to the perfect Jacinda.

I think that it is believable. A lot of responsibility rests on Kirton’s shoulders, he has admitted knowing about it soon afterwards. “”The camp organisers contacted me in the days following the event and explained what they understood had happened…”

I really don’t think Ardern would deny any knowledge today unless that was true.

PDB

Kitty Catkin

She will not come out of it well in either case. She will be assumed to be a liar (a serious allegation unless there is some evidence) or out of touch with what’s going on. I prefer to think the latter.

Traveller

Pete, I’ve heard about this vis a vis various accusatory tweets above – nearly a month ago. With the beltway gossiping, her having gone to the opening, it’s pretty hard to believe she’s not heard anything at all, but I guess we give her benefit of the doubt.

Anyway, it’s done now, I’m just surprised she made an error in saying she’d be looking into it. Very inappropriate.

Kitty Catkin

Kitty Catkin

Missy

Sorry, tame? A man put his hands down inside the pants of 4 teenagers. I am glad you don’t think it is as serious as a man being found dead in women’s lingerie.

Personally I think this is horrific, and I was disgusted at Andrew Kirton on Larry Williams referring to it as a boy of groping. Putting your hands down the pants of a teenage girl or boy is sexual assault, not a bit of groping, and it shouldn’t be ranked as a sex scandal against those from overseas.

Ray

Someone has known about this since the Sunday after the incident when the offender was sent home.
Not telling the PM is just using plausible denial defence, heads have to roll and will for this especially in today’s #metoo meme.

Kitty Catkin

Kitty Catkin

Traveller

Hands down pants is flesh on flesh, it’s pretty shocking. It’s not a brush against – a feel up. 4 people? All underage! Alcohol supplied by Party! Did parents know they were sending them off to a free for all booze-up? Would you be expected to have been told by now? I know Labour would like 16 year olds to vote, but until then they’re still kids. I’m trying to imagine what method they used to get kids to shut up.

PartisanZ

I honestly doubt if there’s anything new about multiple and various organisations plying people with alcohol, including underage young people. Alcohol has a major ‘loyalty-inducing’ intoxicant value. Like #metoonz, I hope this brings forth many more revelations …

What’s new here is the reporting of it, and especially in our current environment of a) increased reporting of sexual harassment coincident with alcohol supply and/or consumption abuse b) increased awareness of both the general and specific harms caused by alcohol in our society, including its aggression and sexually abusive dis-inhibition traits, c) increased awareness of the extent of sexual harassment in society thanks to #metoo etc, and d) the ‘out to get you’ nature of the attack media …

Doesn’t make it right. Doesn’t make it unworthy of investigation. Just needs to be kept in perspective. Could’ve been Boy Scouts, Girl Guides or any number of Rugby and other Sports Clubs … If an offence has been committed the Police should be involved …

This story, however, atop employment law “advice from Treasury” and speculation the economy will founder under Labour tax and business policies, might finally put pay to the absurd idea that the media are favouring the new government …

Kitty Catkin

If people are plyed with drink, they don’t actually have to drink it. It’s a copout to say that someone was drunk because they were given alcohol. Not that that means that it should have been there at all.

Kitty Catkin

The reason they’re called children is because we need to care for them and they have insufficient life experience or judgement to be in adult situations and cope, let alone be full of booze and do so.

I had friend who got herself preggers in the 6th form and got married, I went to her wedding. I was also a year ahead so only 16 at time. These older (20ish) blokes took delight in aiding me to find my perfect drink. Have you ever tried Bacardi and Coke? What about Brandy and Dry? Try a Gin and Tonic. The story is much longer involves puking and memory loss……

chrism56

PG
Not belittling the potential allegations at all, but I thought the police can’t get involved about an alleged incident at a private function unless they have reasonable proof a serious crime was committed or there was a complaint. From what has been reported so far, it seems neither of these have occurred.
However, having alcohol present for so many underage people is just a recipe for disaster as well as probably being illegal. And if there were people under 18 there, where were the chaperones? You can go back in the files to see how many times there have been calls for heads to roll because of incidents less serious than this at school balls.
For Labour, it is all a mess of their own making. Schadenfreude.

Kitty Catkin

Young Labour camps have been run like this forever. Alcohol provided, no IDs checked. You can be a member of the Labour Party at 15 and attend. Ardern has been to very many herself as a member of Young Labour.

Gezza

duperez

I hope the story is got to the bottom of. I hope it comes out that any male stupid enough, pissed enough, lacking in control enough, nasty enough to have done what is claimed, turns out to be a rugby player.

In such a case the frothing and hysteria will be a thing of rare beauty if the initial responses are any indication. Steve Tew should be preparing his notes now just in case.

Even better the quinella would really be struck if the person is an overstayer. What about a quadrella with him a Muslim?

Ardern has talked of inquiries about and measures to address mental health issues. They’re certainly needed.

Stunningly good interview as always by @JohnJCampbell – the ‘sexual abuse counselling’ service Andrew Kirton mentions for victims was made available yesterday – Sunday – before the Monday story. https://t.co/MdqlzQjG7B

Gezza

They are likely to be squirming somewhat at this stage, but they have inflicted serious damage on the Labour Party (as well as potentially some or al of the alleged victims, who are likely to also be very concerned about where the publicity may now lead due to it not being dealt with competently).

The perp should front up and take responsibility, and take some of the heat off the party and off Ardern.

Gezza

Kitty Catkin

I once worked in a Special Needs Unit, and the pupils were all given certificates for – well, not quite putting a chair in, but for nothing meaningful. Even those pupils were not silly enough to think that this meant anything, as was obvious from their demeanour when they collected their ‘awards’ They knew that these were specious, although they wouldn’t have known that word.

Kitty Catkin

High Flying Duck

That is exactly what they said happened:
“It is alleged a 20-year-old man sexually assaulted four teenagers, all aged 16, including putting his hands down the pants of at least three of them”
What is your interpretation of sexual assault involving putting hands down people’s pants Kitty?

Kitty Catkin

High Flying Duck

I’m not sure where you think a sexual assault involving hands down pants would end up, but it seems pretty obvious. Assault = force. Hands down pants strongly suggests where his hand went.
You are surmising the tightness of clothing being worn would have prevented what happened, And yet it has been bad enough for one of the victims to escalate the issue when not enough was done.

PDB

I call bullshit on Ardern not knowing – check out the tape of her being told for the ‘first time’ – the very first thing she does is distance herself by making a point of saying she was only there briefly at the beginning of the event (she reiterates this a few times). Surely if being presented for the first time with such an allegation you’d question exactly what the reporter was referring to, seek further clarification as to the nature of the incident/s etc. Everything she said looked like she had prior knowledge of the incident & her answers looked rehearsed. Body language is poor, especially when she tries to change the subject towards the end of the video.

No doubt she wouldn’t have wanted such an incident to detract from her big pacific island visit.

Kitty Catkin

Well, I would imagine that she knew about it before the press conference, I didn’t take the ‘just heard it’ as literally as that. But she has been well and truly dropped in it and hasn’t handled it well.

I would think it highly unlikely that she had no idea what the press conference was going to be about and didn’t realise what they were going to ask her.

Alan Wilkinson

Labour spinning like a top. Party time indeed. Who was the drunk official present? Who was the perp? When did Saint Jacinda know? Hours of fun ahead to enjoy the sanctimonious Left with their heads up their backsides.